NATURE TEACHING. 



top, with the leaves attached, into the room 

 and noting the change as the leaves become 

 dry. Observe the positions assumed by the 

 leaves of other plants during dry weather, 

 or at the middle of the day when the sun is 

 very hot, noting whether they roll up or droop. 

 'Dagger plants/ Agave, etc., grow in dry 

 places but their leaves do not roll up. They 

 are sufficiently protected by their thick skin. 

 Similarly crotons, vanilla, 'thick-leaf and 

 other plants whose leaves do not roll up during 

 drought often have thick skins to their leaves, 

 or they may be protected by a coating of hairs 

 as in the case of geranium and eupatorium 

 leaves. 



6. Plunge freshly gathered leaves, such 

 as bamboo, sugar-cane, water-lily, hibiscus, 

 potato, into water ; and notice, on withdraw- 

 ing them, which portions are easily wetted and 

 which throw off the water. 



7. Observe during rain, or while water- 

 ing with a watering can with a very fine rose, 

 the direction in which the water is conducted 

 by the leaves of the plants growing in the 

 garden. Compare this with the distribution 

 of the roots and particularly of the young 

 rootlets by which water is absorbed. Note 

 the course of the water and the arrangement 



